Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-18
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.


Especial Cor OF the Alexandra dAzErrEl
RICHMOND, Va, March 1.-THE special
joint committee appointed to Investigate
matters in connection with the Hampton
Normal and Agricultural Institute, is in SEES
sion this afternoon discussing very elabor-
ate report prepared by g sub committee con-
sisting of Senator Stubs, of Gloucester, and
Delegate Cerdgell, Of Hanover. The report
will be submitted to the General Assembly
to morrow. The case. briefly stated, is this:
A memcrial, signed by about Two hundred
persons, residents Of The couaty Of Elizabeth
City, alleged that the Hampton school was
unfairly competing with the mechanics OF
that county in ell Industrial pursuits, &c.
The committee from the General Assembly
made very careful Investigation OF the
charges preferred aud in their report to-
morrow they will recommend that it will be
unwise and in udiciops to interfere By aDy
legislation with the operations of the school,
which has grown to DO the largest institution
Of the kind in the South. The report viii
have some highly complimentary illusions
to the great work performed by
the school under the guidance of Gen. ). Z.
Armstrong, who has done more perhaps for
the education Of the cocred race than any
other man in the United States, end | Will
also state that not s. single witness exam
ined expressed desire that thing SHOULD
be done that would tend to impair the use
fitness of the Institution. The subject of
educating the colored race is handled III q
most interesting way, and The committee is
unanimous in the opinion that the State of
Virginia should do ali in her power locking
| 10 the advancement: If the colored race IN
the matter of educating the ccIored youths
in the lire of practical industry, go that they
NAV be better able TO work out the problem
of selfsupport. One very pertinent sentence
in the report Of the committee Is an extract
from the annual report of the principal,
Gen Armstrong, VINO is Nor hern man.
He says that what the negro needs nov Is
light more than rights" the; the coiored
man takes less interest in politics than for
merly, and is bent mere in winning the
fight in the raca for true citizenship.
The report will say that the charge under
which the school is operating is broad one,
and that in the matter Of buying and sell
ing the institution has !ranscended the iin-
its of the charter. But still the committee
think il best to let the charter remain as it
is because they have every assurances in the
vi w ti!S sSpOE', " az
will not hereafter do anything That viii
evoke complaint from those who signed the
testimonial to the General Assembly.
The road bill for Fairfax, introduced by
Mr. Thornc, provides for the incorporation
OF The Board of Road Commissioners into
body corporate Il provides FOX the election
of road commissions OH the 4lh of May,
1887, and every two years thereafter, who
enter on their dr:ie, Oh July 1st. Road
taxes arc to be collected by the Treasurer,
| vino settles his accounts with the Road
Commissioners in December OF each year,
Commissioners are required to see that all
| county roads are 30 feet wide and to keep
the same from all obstruc;ons Sgu boards
are to be placed at all crossings, Sc. IL is
| the same bill, with some alterations, THAI
Mr. Thorne introduced at the last session.
B. 7. o.